George Lawson Johnston, 1st Baron Luke

George Lawson Johnston, 1st Baron Luke, KBE (9 September 1873 – 23 February 1943), was a British businessman.

Early life and education Luke was born in Edinburgh, the second son of John Lawson Johnston, a butcher who became a beef stock manufacturer and the founder of Bovril Ltd, and Elizabeth, daughter of George Lawson, a biscuit manufacturer in Edinburgh. He was educated privately in Canada, at Dulwich College, and at Blairlodge School, Polmont (a former Scottish private school).

Career Johnston worked in Canada, Australia, Africa, and Argentina, and thereby developed expertise in trade and raw materials. He chose his title partly because St Luke was the patron of hospitals, and partly from the parish of St Luke, Old Street EC1 with which he had a long association. He later served as Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire between 1936 and 1943.

Death

Lord Luke died in London on 23 February 1943, aged 69, and was succeeded in the barony by his son Ian.

Personal life Lawson Johnston married Edith Laura St John (1879–1941) at Melchbourne on 4 December 1902. Edith St John was the daughter of Beauchamp Mowbray St John, 17th Baron St John of Bletso. She was a County Commissioner for the Girl Guides in Bedfordshire and vice-chairman of the City of London Pensions Sub-Committee. They had two sons and four daughters. His daughter Margaret married James Pitman. His second son Hugh was married to Audrey (Pearl) Lawson-Johnston, the last survivor of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915.

Arms